Automatic block system



m Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. SHOECRAPT. AUTOMATIC BLQGK SYSTEM.

No. 548,469. Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

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AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM.

Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

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J. SHOECRAPT' 7 AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM No. 548,469. Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JUDSON SHOEORAFT, OF HARVEYVILLE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ORTSON G. MILLER, OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5&8f169, dated. October 22, 1895.

Application filed March 27, 1895.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Jonson SHOEORAFT, of Harveyville, in the county of Wahaunsee and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Block System, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved automatic block system which is comparatively simple and durable in construction and arranged to positively prevent both front and rear collisions on railroads.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will 'be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of theimprovement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of one of the signals and means for actuating the same, the section being taken on theline 33 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation of the same on the line 4 at of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional front View of part of the tripping mechanism for the spring-motor.

The device, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is arranged on a section A of the railroad, and near the rails at one end of this section is arranged a pair of rails B, and a similar pair of rails B is arranged at the other end of the section, but on the opposite side of the track from that on which the pair of rails B is located. The pairs of rails B and B are adapted to be engaged by brushes 0 and C, respectively, held on the locomotive D, sothat when the latter passes upon the section when traveling in the direction of the arrow a then the brush 0 passes over the rails B, to connect the same with eachother and to close the circuit, as hereinafter more fully described. In a like manner when the locomotive leaves the section A the other brush 0 passes over the rails 13 to close a circuit. If the locomotive comes in the inverse direction of the arrow a to the section A, then the Serial No. 543,389. (No model.)

brush 0 first connects the rails B with each other, and when leaving the section the brush 0 of the locomotive D closes the circuit at the rails B. 5 5

One of the rails B is connected by a wire E with an electromagnet F, forming part of the signal-station G at one end of the section A, and the other rail is connected by a wire E with an electromagnet F, forming part of the station G, located at the other end of the section A at one side of the rails B. A wire E connects one of the rails B with the magnet F, and the other rail B is connected by a wire E? with the magnet F. The electromag- 6 5 nets F F are connected with a battery H, having ground connection.

The devices at each signal-station G and G for operating the signals proper are alike in construction, and hence it sufiic'es to describe 7o but one of the same.

Each electromagnet F and F is provided with an armature F held on a lever F (see Fig. 4,) having its'pivot F journaled in suitable bearings in a frame I, carrying a springmotor K, of any approved construction. The arm F of the lever F is provided at its free end with :3. lug F adapted to engage the recesses or notches I or 1 located diametrically opposite each other in the periphery of a wheel 1 secured on a shaft J, driven from the spring-motor K.

On the rear end of the shaft J is secured a sprocket-wheel J, connected by a sprocketchain J with a sprocket-wheel J secured on a shaft L, carrying the signal proper and mounted to turn in suitable bearings on the post N of the signal-station G or G. The signal L is preferably made of two diametricallyarranged leaves, which when standing hori- 9o zoutally indicate danger and when moved into a vertical position indicate safety.

A set-screw F limits the upward swinging motion of'the lever F and the latter is pref erably weighted by having an arm 0 secured 9 5 on the pivot F and carrying at its rear end a weight 0', as is plainly shown in the drawings. The front'endO of the arm 0 is adapted to be engaged by a notch P in a block P, secured on a wheel Q, forming part of the loo wind-wheel mechanism of the spring-motor K, as plainly indicated in the drawings.

The

entrance to the notch P is covered by a spring R. secured on the block P, but yielding sufficientlyto permit the end 0 to pass into the notch P at the time the motor is coming to a stop by the lug F engaging one of the notches I or 1 The momentum of the wheel Q, on which the block P is secured, drives the spring R back sufficiently to permit the end 0 of the arm 0 to slide into the notch and lock itself until the motor is stopped. The spring R then pushes the wheel Q back far enough to release the end 0 from the notch P, so that the end 0 is free to slide down the spring R whenever the armature F is attracted by the electromagnet F.

By the lug F dropping into the notches I or I only allows the weight 0 to raise the point of rod or lever 0 so that it will pass into the notch P in the block P on the wheel Q. The notches on the periphery of the wheel 1 are made with a bevel or slant on the front side on purpose so that they will not lock the motor. If it did, it would require too much force to release it. After the wheel Q has been released and before it can make one revolutionthe shaft J or wheel 1 has moved far enough to pass the smooth surface of the periphery of the wheel 1 under the lugs F WVhile the lugs F are on the smooth surface of wheel 1 they keep the point of lever 0 out of the way of the catch P. The, notches I and I are somewhat wider than the lug P, so as to allow the catch P to strike the dog 0 before the lugs begin to raise out of the notches I and 1 but not enough play orlost motion is allowed but what they will be raised out of the way before the wheel Q can make one revolution, otherwise it would not work. It is the mechanism connected with wheel Q that stops the motor. The lugs F only limit the number of revolutions that the wheel Q can make at each closing of the circuit. By this arrangement the block P and arm 0 permita weak force to control a powerful machine.

The operation is as follows: WVhen the 10- comotive D (shown in Fig. 1) passes upon the section A, its brush 0, in passing over the rails B, closes the circuit by the wires E and E at both signal-stations to cause the armaturesF and F to simultaneously attract their armatures F so that the lugs F of the levers F move out of the notches I or 1 also causes the point of lever O, to slide down the spring R, thereby releasing the motor. The latter causes one-half revolution to be given to the shafts J, whereby the sprocket-chain J and wheels J and J cause the shafts L to turn to move the signals L of both stations to the danger position. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 4.) Thus the section A is closed at both ends, so that a train approaching from either direction will be warned that the section is already occupied by a train. hen the 10- comotive D passes over the rails Bthe circuit is again closed, so that both electromagnets F and F again attract their armatures, the motors -K are released to again impart a rotary motion to the shafts J, to cause the signals L to make another one-fourth revolution forward into a safety position. (Shown in Fig. 2.) A second train can then enter from either end of the section A, but as soon as this train does so it sets both signals to the danger position.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An automatic block system for railroads, comprising a signal station at each end of the block section, the electric circuit comprising a ground wire containing a battery and signal magnets, the said ground wire being then extended in two parts from the signal magnets of one station to the signal magnets of the other station, one of said parts having a break at one station and the other having a break at the other station, whereupon the closing of one break will operate both the signal magnets, substantially as shown and described.

2. An automatic block system for railways, comprising a revoluble signal, a motor for revolving the said signal and means for locking and releasing the motor, comprising an armature lever having an arm to govern the revolutions of the signal and also having an arm adapted to engage in a notch in a block secured to a rotary part of the motor, and a spring finger movable across the notch in the block operating to release the arm from the notch, as set forth.

3. A block system for railroads, provided with a signal station at each end of the block section, electro-magnets at each signal station, rails independent of the track rails at each end of the block section, and connected with the said electro-rnagnets of both signal stations, brushes on the locomotive forengaging the said rails, to close the circuit, a spring motor for each station, a releasing and locking device for the said motor comprising two portions adapted to engage respectively with separate wheels of the motor and controlled from the armature of the electro-magnets, and a revolving signal at each station, and adapted to be rotated from the said motor, when released, as set forth.

4. An automatic block system, provided with a releasing device for the motors, comprising a notched wheel, an armature lever adapted to engage the notches on the said wheel, an arm-projecting from the armature lever, and a block having notch guarded by a spring adapted to engage the said arm, the said spring being secured to one of the wheels of the motor, substantially as shown and described.

JUDSON SHOECRAFT. WVitnesses:

GEO. G. WAU H, J. W. PETERS. 

